Works to upgrade the existing campground at Banksia Bluff in Cape Conran are expected to start soon, but there will be no shared path between Marlo and Cape Conran.
Acting Minister for Environment Gayle Tierney recently announced construction to build a new multi-use recreation area which will host school visits and campers, as part of a $29 million investment.
“Cape Conran is a spectacular place to camp, fish, swim and enjoy a vast range of outdoor activities on the stunning Gippsland coastline – this upgrade will mean more Victorians can enjoy our state’s natural beauty,” Minister Tierney said.
“We know how important campgrounds are for local town economies, it is why we continue to make it easier and more affordable to enjoy our great outdoors with half price camping ground bookings.”
Visitor attractions and facilities will also include 10 new cabins offering year-round roofed accommodation, the East Cape Boardwalk, Salmon Rocks lookout, a boat ramp for fishers and divers, shelters, bridges and barbecues – making Cape Conran an outdoor destination for all ages.
While works are underway, the site remains open to campers with the finished project to expand the number of people who can stay at this coastal campground – with Victorians encouraged to take advantage of half-price fees as part of the Labor Government’s $10.5m investment in Victorian Budget 2025/26.
The project will deliver drinking water to the Cape Conran office, the new cabins, activity centre and create a new wastewater system for the park.
The opportunity for a shared-use path on top of a proposed pipeline was also explored, but following extensive investigation and planning from Parks Victoria, this option was found not to be feasible.
President of the Marlo Ratepayers and Residents Association (MRRA), Shayne Boyd, said the news was bittersweet.
“The finalising of repairs and reconstruction at Cape Conran is great news, as it is now five years since the Black Summer Bushfires that destroyed so much of the infrastructure,” Ms Boyd said.
“However, the easy dismissal of the promised shared pathway is extremely disappointing.
“This was one part of the overall package that actually created new infrastructure which would be of enormous benefit to the local community and visitors alike.
“It was an opportunity to create a widely supported pathway, to create something new out of the trauma and destruction of the bushfires that impacted this area.
“We presented a petition, through MP Tim Bull, to the State Government earlier in the year which spoke to the benefits of this project and the overwhelming support especially from local businesses.
“It’s such a disappointment, and quite shortsighted.
“It fails to see the potential that the pathway offers, especially with talk of a Wilderness Coast Walk between Marlo and Mallacoota.”
Local MP, Tim Bull said the majority of projects were completed in Cape Conran.
“There is not $29 million in new money at all and it is not state money – the East Cape boardwalk is done (insurance money) and the boat ramp is done (Federal money),” Mr Bull said.
“I’m not sure what the “shelters, bridges and barbecues” are but assume they are the ones already replaced (by insurance money).
“The only thing here not already done appears to be the cabins and it is a disgrace they have taken five years and been sitting in storage in Bairnsdale for three years – nothing to brag about – and again insurance money.”
COOTA REBUILD CONTINUES
Meanwhile, jetties around Mallacoota Inlet, promised to be repaired post the 2019/20 bushfires to support tourism in the region, remain out of action with no work commenced.
Mr Bull said it was a disgrace that the landing at Kingfisher Point remained a line of rusted poles and at Goanna Bay the structure still had plastic access restriction tape blowing in the wind from the fire period.
Landings at other locations like Cape Horn and The Narrows are also close to being declared unusable due to the lack of maintenance and declining state of the structures.
Mr Bull has called on the State Government and Minister Dimopoulos to fix the jetties it promised to.
“Back in early 2020 I stood with then Premier Daniel Andrews at a media conference and he said the Government would walk with us every step of the way in the recovery,” Mr Bull said.
“In hindsight what a load of weasel words that was. Five years on we still have no cabins at Cape Conran, the Thurra Bridge is not re-opened and these jetties are still out of action.
“One of the great attractions of Mallacoota is the day boating destinations around the lakes. Tourists love these locations, and they are popular.
“How disappointing five years later to see them still out of action, while others fall
into disrepair through lack of basic maintenance.
“We are currently in a situation where not only is infrastructure not being rebuilt, but other areas will also soon be closed if they are not maintained.
“It is time we had the investment we were promised.
“The reason this is occurring is the State’s finances have been grossly mismanaged to the stage we are to hit a debt level of $192 billion with interest repayments alone of $28.8 million per day. This is the simple reason we are seeing cuts across the board.
“We need a government that will restore the State’s balance sheet to a respectable level, because under Jacinta Allen it is out of control. Labor cannot manage money and Victoria’s tourists and boaters are paying the price,” Mr Bull said.
However, in some good news, Mr Bull announced that following a meeting with the new Parks Victoria chief executive officer, the Thurra River Bridge and campground is set to be open by September this year.
